The Car Connection Expert Review

You don’t draw a moustache on the Mona Lisa. You don’t
put Pamela Anderson’s face (or other features) on the Statue of Liberty. And you
don’t go making casual changes to Jaguar’s XK8/XKR coupe and convertible.

There are quite a few
good-looking automobiles on the market today, and plenty that are fun to drive.
But it’s the rare car that can match the combination of elegant styling and
serious performance delivered by the XK. So we started to wonder — and worry —
when we heard that the British automaker would be making changes for the 2005
model-year.

Tweaks
might be the better word. The XK went through a much more dramatic transition
two years ago. For the 2003 model year, the changes included a larger 4.2-liter
engine and a six-speed ZF gearbox. The 2005 updates are far more modest, but
will still be apparent to XK aficionados, as we discovered during a recent run
through Texas hill country.

Most folks will be likely to get their first look
at an ’05 as it races up in the rearview mirror. From that angle, the most
noticeable change is the beefier and more aggressive grille. On the XK8, there’s
a larger chrome crossbeam. The ’05 cars lose those little bumperettes, which
always had the look of being bolted on at the last minute. All versions of the
XK get a more aggressive lower air scoop. Add to the XKR a set of larger,
20-inch wheels and tires and a larger, functional spoiler. All models get sporty
new wheels, different window surrounds and revised front
bumpers.

The most controversial
change comes with the taillights, which, to our eye, now look a little too much
like they belong on the Ford Taurus. But on the whole, the ’05 changes enhance
an already elegant design.

Styling has always been
a hallmark of Jaguar’s cars. The E-Type remains one of the most recognizable —
and lusted after — products ever to hit the highway. Yet it’s the XK that has
proved the fastest-selling sports car in Jaguar history. Rolled out in both
coupe and convertible body styles, the 2+2 has been on the market since 1996,
yet in a market where designs get stale surprisingly fast, the XK remains just
as attractive as it did nearly nine years ago.

As
always, the ’05 will continue to be offered as both coupe and
convertible.

While the styling holds up, what about performance
and handling? At 390 horsepower, the XKR was originally one of the elite in the
horsepower race. These days, it’s little more than middle of the pack, but
numbers can be misleading. Stomp on the throttle, and you’ll feel yourself
sinking deep into the car’s leather seats. Even the base car is quick, thanks to
the ’03 engine upgrade.

Over the last few
years, Jaguar has added a variety of features meant to keep the XK series
technologically competitive. The car has a reasonably easy-to-use navigation
system with a mid-size screen mounted high on the center stack. There’s an
optional automatic cruise control system, its radar guidance unit doubling as an
obstacle detection system. The XKR features massive Brembo brakes and Xenon
headlamps, the latter system optional on the XK8.

For 2005, Jaguar also
adds an automatic speed limiter. Set it to limit your top speed, a handy feature
for lead-footed drivers who must pass through speed traps.

Where the XK shows its
age most clearly is in its handling on rough and twisty roads. Blasting around
corners, the Jag is competent and predictable. For those who want the maximum in
handling, we’d recommend going with the electronic, or CATS, suspension. But
there’s no hiding the fact that the XK’s chassis is not nearly as stiff as more
recent competitors. That becomes all the more obvious in the convertible, which
flexes noticeably on roads that would be taken in stride by the likes of a
Mercedes-Benz SL.

So those who are
looking for the ultimate in handling and performance may decide to look
elsewhere. But life — and automobiles — are all about compromise. And the vast
majority of motorists are never going to push a car like this to its limits. For
them, styling is supreme. And there, it’d be hard to find another car that can
compare with the Jaguar XK.

A very sexy money-pit.

Overall Rating

Interior/Exterior

Performance

Comfort and Quality

Safety

Features

Fuel Economy / MPG

Reliability

If I had it to do all over again I would not have bought this very sexy money-pit. It seems that JAGUAR has forgotten why they built this car. And yet I still love it the way you love a little puppy that pees...
If I had it to do all over again I would not have bought this very sexy money-pit. It seems that JAGUAR has forgotten why they built this car. And yet I still love it the way you love a little puppy that pees and poops on your new rug. + More »

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November 28, 2016

2003 Jaguar XK8 2-Door Convertible XK8

nice jag, but costly

Overall Rating

Interior/Exterior

Performance

Comfort and Quality

Safety

Features

Fuel Economy / MPG

Reliability

This car is awesome, only a few minor problems in the last 85000 miles.